Children Of Bodom's Alexi Laiho On New CD: 'Shred Your Fucking Ass Off'

Four times an interview was arranged with Children of Bodom guitarist Alexi Laiho and three times it never happened. Once, he phoned in on a cellphone and the signal was dropped. Another time they were headed over to a Slayer rehearsal and cancelled. Finally, however, Ultimate-Guitar connected with the Wildchild and below is what transpired. Laiho may be a little loud, a little vulgar, and a little outspoken - but at least he's honest. Here, he talks about the new album, Are You Dead Yet, the nuances of metal, and the noises he creates.
Ultimate-Guitar: Do you think the new album is a distillation of all the best elements of the earlier records? Are you better able to identify when a guitar riff really stands out or a vocal melody truly says something?Alexi Laiho: Well, I mean, yeah, you say that question, but everybody would say of course it's (the newest album) is always better. 'The new album is always the best, it's better than the last one' and shit like that. I mean I'm probably going to give you the f--king boring same answer that everyone does. But yeah, I think it is, I think it's better. We have all improved as musicians and stuff like that.
You've learned how to more precisely capture the sound you want from the band?
Yeah. We've had the guitar sound down for quite a long time and we really haven't changed it either. I mean, I love the sound that I got, I love the amps that I got (see sidebar). But it's like with all the guys in the band, after every album we're just more confident. So it (the album) was way quicker and way less painless (he means painful).

"With all the guys in the band, after every album we're just more confident."

Can you describe your guitar tone?
It's the kind of guitar sound that, you know, if you're like 16 and into heavy metal, you're probably gonna hate it. It's true, dude, because it's the sort of sound when you're playing with a low volume, it doesn't really sound like anything. It's nothing special. But when you crank it up like when I play live or in the studio, that's when it really kicks in. It's like all midrange, you know? That's pretty much what it's all about.
Is midrange, then, the key to the heavy metal guitar sound? Is that the tonality that tends to define the sound of this genre?
Well, I guess it's a matter of taste but for me most of the metal bands and the guitar players sort of have like the smiley EQ - there's a bunch of low ends and a bunch of high ends and no midrange. And that's the kind of sound that could sound really cool when you're not crankin' it up. But when you crank it up, it really doesn't speak out through the other f--kin' instruments. Whereas a midrange kind of sound, as soon as you start playing a solo, it speaks out more.
Were you following bands with twin guitarists? And for that matter groups with two guitars and a keyboard player?
Yeah, always, yeah. Most of them, if there were two guitar players (I was listening to them). I was always into doing the double guitar thing like harmonies and stuff like that. As for the keyboard, that were something I know that we needed. Because if you have keyboards, it gives you so much more opportunities to do whatever the f--k you want. Because keyboards, you know, you can get anything out of it if you have the right equipment. You don't have to stick with the one sound, right? If you don't want to do the same shit you were doin' like 5 years ago, you can still use the keyboard but just do totally something different.
Which leads us to the next point about how to use a keyboard in a black metal band and not make it sound like a heavy Yes? Do you sit down with Janne Jameson Warman (keyboards) and actually work out parts to achieve a less prog-oriented sound?
We have long sessions with me and the keyboard player. Usually the keyboards are recorded separately from the other instruments (in the studio). Usually it's just me and the keyboard player. We're sitting down and we're going through what he should play. And especially with the sounds, like dude, I mean we spent so, so many nights, so many hours just figuring out what will be the right kind of sound for it (a specific track). And as far as the guitars, the same sort of thing except that like it's just always that before recording an album, we rehearse like f--kin' hell. We put out a schedule, it's kind of like we're going to work, you know what I'm saying? We had like every single day except Sunday we're gonna meet and rehearse until 3 o'clock and then we just work on the shit. And that sort of thing works really good.
You are the main writer in the band?
Yeah, I write all the songs and then I bring them to the other guys at the rehearsal space. Then we just work on them. They're more involved with like the arrangements and shit like that.
Do you know the band Avenged Sevenfold? I know one of the big quotes in the story in Guitar Player magazine you did recently mentions that you are leaning toward the rockier or bluesier side as opposed to the stuff that players like Yngwie were doing. AD actually embraced that classical thing that Yngwie was doing. Was that type of playing an influence for you or were you listening to more kinds of rocks guys or bluesier guys?
No, Yngwie definitely was a huge influence. It's just that the whole neo-classical thing, especially in Europe, it just got a little out of hand, I guess. Come on, you can't debate about him. He's a f--king kickass player. He knows how to f--king rock shit like that. For me, even when I was 17 years or so, it seemed there were just so, so many Yngwie copies out there. Everybody wanted to sound like him, and they all sounded like shit. I'm sorry, but they just f--king did.

"I always consider myself to be a guitar player. I was never a singer."

So who were some of these people you were listening to when you were younger? Did you listen to people like Hendrix, Jeff Beck, or David Gilmour?
Oh, Hendrix definitely. I was always more into more old school blues like Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker. And I know you couldn't hear them while playing, and it doesn't really make any sense, but I just like the whole feeling that you can capture from that kind of music. There's just one dude and one guitar, and you can hear the tapping of his foot. I think that's f--king beautiful.
What is the attraction of bands from Europe to this kind of metal? What is it about it that those countries drift toward this kind of music? You love the blues, so how come you're not playing like a Stevie Ray Vaughn thing?
I know what you mean, but I don't really have an answer for you. So many people ask me, especially cause I'm from Scandinavia, like the kinds you just mentioned. Is it something to do with the fact that it's so cold in there? That it's so dark? And I'm just like, I don't know. It might be. But then again, people when they come from foreign countries to Finland and Sweden - during wintertime, it's always dark. Then in summertime it's just always light. You never get f--king darkness. Someone was asking, It's something to do with that? And I was like, You know what? They have the same shit in Alaska, but there's not a bunch of f--king metal bands coming out from Alaska. I mean, it just can't be so simple that it has something to do with that. Maybe it's just some sort of Scandinavian mentality.
Do you consider yourself a guitar-playing singer? Or a singer who plays guitar?
I always consider myself to be a guitar player. I was never a singer. The only reason I'm still singing is that when we started the band when we were 13, 14 years old, no one else wanted to do it. Everybody was too shy and I don't want to sing. And I was, Well f--k it then! I'll do it. Then I just kind of got stuck with it. Singing for me, it's definitely secondary. I'm a guitar player, really.
And at this point in time, playing guitar and singing those lines you're singing is just second nature, in terms of coordinating the vocal with the playing?
It's a matter of getting used to it. If you've been doing it for many years, it just gets easier and easier. From our last record Are You Dead Yet, there were a couple of parts where I actually had to sit down at home on my couch and do it really slowly. Just play the riffs and just talk or whisper the vocals on top of it just to get the rhythm down. But on the new album, there's f--ked-up rhythms with the guitars and f--ked rhythms with the vocals. I think it's a cool thing that the rhythms of the vocals clash with the rhythms of the guitars. I always get it down pretty easily though because I've been doing for quite a long time anyway.
So obviously vocals go on last when you guys are recording?
Oh, yeah. Definitely.
While we're on the album, were you fans of The Ramones (the band covers the Ramones chestnut, Somebody Put Something In My Drink)?
Oh, yeah. Well punk rock and The Ramones was that kind of shit that I grew up with anyway.
Sex Pistols and all those kinds of bands?
Well, yeah. My favorites were always like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols.

"If I play a guitar without whammy bar, I'm always like reaching for it."

You're main guitar is that ESP Signature V. How did you come to play a V? It's a pretty obscure guitar in terms of a shape - it's not like a Les Paul or a Strat.
It's like the rock n' roll shape. It was always my thing. I don't know how, that always just looked so f--king cool for me. From people like, obviously Randy, Chris Holmes from WASP.
Michael Schenker?
Well the thing is, Michael Schenker was playing the Flying V and I was never into the Flying V or even King V. I was into the Randy shape, with the lower wings are shorter. Then there was Anthrax, for example.
The way it kind of sits around your shoulders and how your hand kind of goes through it - it didn't take any kind of getting used to the shape at all?
It did definitely. When I first started playing my first guitar was a Tokai Strat, which is an okay guitar. But once I actually learned how to play, or at least when back in the day I knew how to play, after one year or so I was like, I need f--king 24 frets, I need a f--king Floyd rose, I need this and that. I was all about Steve Vai. I got an Ibanez and I remember thinking, I worked my f--king ass off. I was still a kid, so I had to do chores and shit like that to get the guitar. I played with the Ibanez for a while, but I always liked the f--king Randy shape, the Jackson f--king V or whatever. One time I just kind of accidentally tried out one of those, it was a custom-made Jackson Randy shaped. One-bridge pickup, 24 frets, Floyd rose, and I was just, Dude, this is a f--king guitar, man. By that time, I actually had a job and was just saving money so that I could f--king buy that guitar. And I did. It was weird at first when you get that shaped guitar because it feels so different than a Strat shape, especially when you're sitting down. But nowadays, I don't even know how to play anything else. I buy guitars and like playing with different shapes for fun. I've got a Les Paul, for example, and I've got a Strat. But when you're sitting down especially, I'm so uncomfortable with anything but the V shapes.
How did the ESP Alexi 600 happen?
When I got hooked up with ESP, it was ESP Japan. They made me two guitars and they became signature models. The thing was, they couldn't sell those in the U.S. because it was too much like Randy's Jackson. They were afraid they were going to get sued or something like that. So we just thought we'd change the body shape a little bit, but it's not that different. It's surprisingly good-looking because I was not happy with that decision. But I know we had to do that anyway. It actually does look really good and it's a good guitar definitely.
Is the whammy bar a big part of your playing?
If I play a guitar without it, I'm always like reaching for it. I'm like, Where the f--k is it?Punch Me I Bleed is kind of the ballad on the record? The solo on that was very cool. Is there a different kind of approach or mindset soloing over a half-time song or slower song opposed to an up-tempo thing?
Definitely, yeah. With a fast song, you just want to f--king shred your f--king ass off. With the solo, try to serve the song to make it sound better. With a slower-tempo song, maybe just play more with feeling. It ends up to be more melodic. I guess there's just more feeling to it.
When you lay down solos, have you walked in and sort of composed the solo in your head? Do you know what you're going to play or is it just sort of off the cuff?
Usually, per album I have probably one solo composed. Usually what I do is when I start doing the leads, in the studio I just take the lead part and loop it over and over. And I'll play and record, sort of improvise. Then I just listen to it, and if there's anything I liked about, then I'm like, That was cool, so I'm going to use that. I'll do that again. I'll listen to it and if there was anything I liked about it, same shit. I kind of do that for quite a few times and then I sort of just put the stuff I liked together and it becomes a solo.
But then there are a few songs that I'm like, Let's just go!Which songs specifically on the new record?
On the new record at least the third track, If You Want PeacePrepare For War. They were like I was just talking about - like pure, f--king shredding. You don't even have to think about anything, feelings or anything. Just go for it. You know, it's an aggressive song and it's an aggressive solo background, so just put it out and go. It took me three or four takes, and I was actually done with the damn thing.
Do you take input from the other guys about your solos? If you put something down that you like and they don't like, will you defer to them or is it you who has the final say?
It's always up to me with the solos. Oh yeah, definitely. I don't want to sound like an asshole, but I don't want anybody to tell me what I should do with the leads.

"I don't care if there's people around when I record. But when I do leads, I just want everybody to f--k off totally."

Are they there when you solo?
No. I don't care if there's people around when I record. I don't even care if there's people around when I sing because I know some people are very shy about that. But when I do leads, I just want everybody to f--k off totally.
Is there any one solo that was particularly difficult to play?
Yeah, there's always that one. I think the hardest one to actually get done was the first part of the solo in We're Not Gonna Fall. And I don't know why, but it starts with this arpeggio. And arpeggios for me, they are always a piece of cake. I don't have to work on technique so much that I can actually pull it off. The picking part is actually harder for me. And the tempo is super fast. There was just this picking lick that I just couldn't get down. And then I was trying to record it and trying to get it down, and then I got pissed off and had to go out for a cigarette andIf you get more pissed off, it's guaranteed that you're not going to get it down. That means you have to calm down a little bit. I did and then I pulled it off.
Is there a point where rhythms and tempos can't get any faster? Is it possible that COB could play tracks any faster than this?
I don't know if you can, but I think we've pretty much pushed the limits where you can actually handle it. And also, that it's not beyond the point that it just gets ridiculous. Because you know there are certain guitar players - or a certain guitar playerOh, f--k it. You know Chris Impellitteri? He's got instructional videos going on or something like that. This motherf--ker, dude, he was so fast with the picking that it, even though it was smooth, it didn't sound good anymore. Like when he did a f--king A minor from an ascending scale, it was like a chord. It was just a fraction of a second and then it was done. Okay, yeah, he worked on it and he's really good, but it's not very musical at that point anymore. So I think that the tempos that we've had so far, I think we have reached the limits - at least for myself. I know that I can do sixteenths on 210 and I think that's even stupid.
The keyboard player and you trade licks. Had you ever heard Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer do that kind of stuff? Where you almost can't tell where the keyboard is and where the guitar is?
Actually, I'm a big fan of Jan Hammer. I'm a big fan of Miami Vice, too. I never heard the stuff he did with Jeff Beck, though. But as far as the trading licks, maybe more from Yngwie Malmsteen.
In a perfect world, would you like to have COB recognized as like the modern-day version of like what Judas Priest or Iron Maiden was back in the day? To be seen as the definition of heavy metal in 2000's? Is that ultimately what you would like to strive for and sell 5 million records and have that kind of integrity about you?
No, there was never anything that I wanted to do with music. We wouldn't want to be a version of anything. Also, I was never reaching for any certain status like to be these guys, they were the f--king shit at that time or whatever. You know, just doing gigs and you have a good crowd and have fun, you know the people are having fun and that's pretty much what I want to do. I think if you're trying to reach for something like that you're never going to get it.
Is this your first tour of the U.S.?
No, by now I think we've done like six.

"The U.S. is like sort of a new territory for us."

What's the reaction been like with the new record? Can you feel it growing and gaining momentum?
Oh yeah, definitely. The first three tours that we did, we were just an opening act. We would play for like 30 minutes or whatever. And these three tours that were pretty much almost in a row, you can really see from the first one to the third one that we actually gained a lot of new fans by playing live and touring so f--king much. Pretty much after that, our management said, Yeah, you guys should definitely headline in the States. We were like, No f--king way. That's going to be ridiculous! No one is going to show up. But then we did, and most of the f--king venues were actually sold out, which was very nice. Because for us, the U.S. is like sort of a new territory. So obviously, we are working on it. But here, you've got to tour your f--king ass off all the time. First of all, just to get recognized and just to be remembered. There's so many bands out here. And this country, I don't think I'll ever be able to comprehend the size of the country. That's why I don't understand why we would have to tour so much in here. But it is a huge, f--king country, and that's the way it is and that's why we've got to do it.
There are a lot of bands obviously over here. Are there a lot of good bands?
I think there are definitely enough good bands touring here that if you don't get off your ass and just go play gigs, then people probably will forget about you. Nowadays, there's like whatever - f--king metalcore. I was never into these labels and I'll never be into categorizing Children of Bodom under any f--king label. Especially here, people like to do that a lot. This is like metalcore, hardcore, grindcore, emo, screamo, whatever the motherf--king bullshit It's all f--king metal. The point is that Lamb of God, Shadows Fall, God Forbid, I like them a lot.

Alexi's Arsenal

Alexi Laiho is a man easily satisfied. Hi go-to guitar is the ESP custom made modified V shape with 24 frets, an EMG-HZ model H-4 bridge pickup, and built-in gain boost. This is plugged into a Lee Jackson Perfect Connection preamp and Ampeg SVT poweramp. Effects are minimal and include a Rocktron Intelliflex (chorus) and a Dunlop DB-01 Dimebag CryBaby From Hell (wah-wah). The instrument is kept in a perpetually tuned down C mode (string running order from low to high: C, G, C, F, A, D).

Sorry for double posting, but I'd like to state (before anyone deicides to flame me) that I quite like CoB and Alexi and I'm not trying to rip him or anything, but stating Hardcor is metal is like saying Grindcore is Progressive rock.
Good one UG for the interview!

I've been really getting into children of bodom lately. I like them a lot. The chorus to "In Your Face" is ridiculous though...Lets see how many swears we can fit into a 4 minute song woot.
They're really accomplished musicians though, and that's why I like them so much.

God withus :
I've been really getting into children of bodom lately. I like them a lot. The chorus to "In Your Face" is ridiculous though...Lets see how many swears we can fit into a 4 minute song woot.
They're really accomplished musicians though, and that's why I like them so much.

Yea, they dont swear in the chorus at all man.....
Alexi rocks, what a talented ***** dude.

Nowadays, there?s like whatever ? f--king metalcore. I was never into these labels and I?ll never be into categorizing Children of Bodom under any f--king label. Especially here, people like to do that a lot. This is like metalcore, hardcore, grindcore, emo, screamo, whatever the motherf--king bullshit? It?s all f--king metal. The point is that Lamb of God, Shadows Fall, God Forbid, I like them a lot.

couldn't have said it better, hope all the kiddies from the "metal" forum read this

Anybody who talks sh*t about Children Of Bodom or ANY of the band members can die cuz Alexi, Jaska, Roope, Henkka, and Janne KICK ASS!!!... COB is the greatest band and they do have the MOST talented musicians on the planet... You dont need to ask all those stupid questions about Alexi's guitars either because you can find it all on the ESP website or the ESP Russia or Japan website... I agree "do your homework before posting"

yea i'd have to agree with metallica. COB's extremely good but they're not THE best. no one is THE best. they might be in black metal or whatever but saying in all metal or in all rock or in all music for that matter is just ****ing ridiculous...and what was with that random a7x reference??

Incorrect. It is, as you say, an opinion. There is a lot of interpretation in classification of music.

All I can say again is that he's wrong. There's a distinction between bands such as LoG and say Decapitated. Sure there's different "interpretation" in music classifying, but if somebody tried to tell you that Metallica is a rapmetal band, could that ever be a sensible "interpretation?" Sometimes, the lines do tend to get blurred, but the fact remains there is enough of a difference between core bands like LoG and metal bands to merit their division into separate genres. This shouldn't be a problem. I don't know why people can't accept this-it doesn't mean that core bands "suck" it's just different. Get over it. I'm not going to try to convert you to my position, I'm just stating the truth. Whether you choose to believe it is up to you.
Peace.

totenkopf wrote:
Incorrect. It is, as you say, an opinion. There is a lot of interpretation in classification of music.
All I can say again is that he's wrong. There's a distinction between bands such as LoG and say Decapitated. Sure there's different "interpretation" in music classifying, but if somebody tried to tell you that Metallica is a rapmetal band, could that ever be a sensible "interpretation?" Sometimes, the lines do tend to get blurred, but the fact remains there is enough of a difference between core bands like LoG and metal bands to merit their division into separate genres. This shouldn't be a problem. I don't know why people can't accept this-it doesn't mean that core bands "suck" it's just different. Get over it. I'm not going to try to convert you to my position, I'm just stating the truth. Whether you choose to believe it is up to you.
Peace.

he isnt stating a fact, hes just saying he doesnt give a shit what genre it is, but he likes it.
and he also said in a GW interview that he uses the HZs w/ a gain booster because
a) the gain booster gives him the sound he likes, any more dist. would just be feedback.
and b) he doesnt like active pickups.

I'm glad he touched an the genre debates that are all too common nowadays... I think it's useful to have a FEW different genres... like the difference between old Maiden style metal and Behemoth and Pig Destroyer - all heavy metal bands in their own style, but very different from each other. Otherwise genres just end up being limiting and used more as a snarl word. Ask some kvlt guy from the metal forum what he thinks of metal core and he'll say metal core like a curse word... ask an old classic rocker about death metal, it's the same effect.
Sorry, this ended up rambling, but I was thrilled to know Alexi's opinion on the issue.

i HATE screaming vocals, but Children of Bodom kick ass! holy shit their guitar work is incredible! I'm surprised he didn't mention powermetal, cuase i think that's what COB is classified as. On his playing speed comment, Rusty Cooley and Micheal Angelo Batio are the two fastest players i know of. But Rusty kicks ass, and from what i've hear MAB doesn't.

Autumn Shadows wrote:
His custom guitar is a ripoff of the Randy Rhoads RR5, if you havenbt noticed yet.

If you read the interview you would know that he adressed that, and that he admits it is a lot like the Randy Rhoades, the people were pretty much like, hey we want to make you a model, oh ok I want something like this and that is what he likes.
Get over it.

Autumn Shadows wrote:
His custom guitar is a ripoff of the Randy Rhoads RR5, if you havenbt noticed yet.

It's actually a rip off of the RR1. This happened because his RR1's were stolen while on tour and Jackson would take about 3 months to make him new ones. ESP stepped up and made him some fast so he endorses them now instead.

First off, no his guitar is not a rip off of the randy rhoads model - his guitar is slightly different.
Second, COB are a ****ing awesome band. I dont care whether you like them or not, they are some of the greatest musicians I have heard in a long time and deserve respect from everyone who has ever touched an instrument! COB RULES!

PT 2 DOOR RULE wrote:
Autumn Shadows wrote:
His custom guitar is a ripoff of the Randy Rhoads RR5, if you havenbt noticed yet.
It's actually a rip off of the RR1. This happened because his RR1's were stolen while on tour and Jackson would take about 3 months to make him new ones. ESP stepped up and made him some fast so he endorses them now instead.

ESP took 3 months, Jackson would have taken a year. I also think he had a problem with Jackson being sold to shitty Fender.

Metallica1989 wrote:
Okay dude, you are exaggerating. They are pretty good at what they do and I like it, but they are definately NOT the most talented musicians on the planet, and they are NOT the greatest band.

Ok so whos better? Hendrix? Fu*k that sh*t, hendrix sucked, he only was so popular cuz he played guitar upside down and cuz he was a black guitar player. he wasnt that great and yet every time they have a poll in magazine for who the best guitar player is, its always 1.Hendrix 2.Page and 3.like Angus young or something... Hendrix wasnt that great and he still is called the best... Alexi is the best, lets see you go out there and fuc*in sweep pick and tap do all that sh*t as fast as him. There is no other band as CREATIVE as COB i guess you could say.

Ok so whos better? Hendrix? Fu*k that sh*t, hendrix sucked, he only was so popular cuz he played guitar upside down and cuz he was a black guitar player. he wasnt that great and yet every time they have a poll in magazine for who the best guitar player is, its always 1.Hendrix 2.Page and 3.like Angus young or something... Hendrix wasnt that great and he still is called the best... Alexi is the best, lets see you go out there and fuc*in sweep pick and tap do all that sh*t as fast as him. There is no other band as CREATIVE as COB i guess you could say.

Finally someone agrees haha, these guys are nothing compared to some of the guitarists these days

I do freakin agree on that as well, these judments are based on renown, not talent. COB is probably the greatest band in the world in my opinion, as much LIVE as on the radio. The only guitarist in my head who I think might be better than him is probably Herman Li, he truly kicks some asses, never saw someone go that fast and actually sound good.

alexilaihocob wrote:
Metallica1989 wrote:
Okay dude, you are exaggerating. They are pretty good at what they do and I like it, but they are definately NOT the most talented musicians on the planet, and they are NOT the greatest band.
Ok so whos better? Hendrix? Fu*k that sh*t, hendrix sucked, he only was so popular cuz he played guitar upside down and cuz he was a black guitar player. he wasnt that great and yet every time they have a poll in magazine for who the best guitar player is, its always 1.Hendrix 2.Page and 3.like Angus young or something... Hendrix wasnt that great and he still is called the best... Alexi is the best, lets see you go out there and fuc*in sweep pick and tap do all that sh*t as fast as him. There is no other band as CREATIVE as COB i guess you could say.

WOAH. You sir are an Idiot. If it weren't for Hendrix then most of your favorite guitarists would not sound the same. He pioneered a sound. If Alexi never played, no one would notice...except for me because CoB = God.
Hendrix is still the Greatest mainly because no one is/has been more creative/pioneering on Guitar.

alexilaihocob :
Metallica1989 wrote:
Okay dude, you are exaggerating. They are pretty good at what they do and I like it, but they are definately NOT the most talented musicians on the planet, and they are NOT the greatest band.
Ok so whos better? Hendrix? Fu*k that sh*t, hendrix sucked, he only was so popular cuz he played guitar upside down and cuz he was a black guitar player.
disagreed
but its ok cause its an opinion
to me, skill isn't classified by just speed. I agree Alexi Laiho is extremely talented, but saying Hendrix sucked?

well, i dont really mean he really SUCKED, I know he obviously an amazing guitar player, way the hell better than i might ever be, i just mean he definetly was not the greatest, he didnt have all those techniques and things that Alexi has and i think Hendrix is overrated cuz hes ALWAYS at the #1 spot in every magazine and poll. I know it all isnt about speed, but COB's songs sound good even if you play them slower and the way Hendrix wrote his songs, you need a specific groove for them to sound good so it really can only sound good at one speed... I know Hendrix doesnt suck!

Alexi kicks ass, I love his point of view on music too, really down to earth. It seems that he is still just one of the kids down the block that kicks ass on guitar. He is humble and is in it just for the ****ing rock and roll. That attitude should be in everyone, and then there would be less quarrels on "Which guitarist can play the fastest" and what is "REAL METAL" and all that nonsense. It's all about just having a good time man, so stop jumping on each other's throats, in the end all we end up sounding all cocky and pretentious.

OneLastSaluteFW wrote:
alexilaihocob :
Metallica1989 wrote:
Okay dude, you are exaggerating. They are pretty good at what they do and I like it, but they are definately NOT the most talented musicians on the planet, and they are NOT the greatest band.
Ok so whos better? Hendrix? Fu*k that sh*t, hendrix sucked, he only was so popular cuz he played guitar upside down and cuz he was a black guitar player.
disagreed
but its ok cause its an opinion
to me, skill isn't classified by just speed. I agree Alexi Laiho is extremely talented, but saying Hendrix sucked?

Sorry but hendrix did suck... he is nothing special. it pisses me off that people say "oh yeah hendrix was the greatest ever!".. he isnt. i can name over a dozen guitarists who are more creative, more talented, and have done more pioneering on the guitar then hendrix could ever dream of doing.

Children of Bodom is a very good band, and i agree with hatecrew, Laiho is an awesome musician as are the rest of the band. Goth hater should find another hobby that is better than hating goths and having bad grammar.

Children of Bodom has some of the coolest guitaring around. BUT ALEX CAN'T SING. He sounds like a fourteen year old trying to sing a mix of grindcore and hardcore punk but failing miserably.
Because of his horrible voice I can't stand listening to their music.
Megadeth and Metallica are the true kings of metal.

totenkopf wrote:
couldn't have said it better, hope all the kiddies from the "metal" forum read this
He's entitled to his opinion, but he's wrong. I don't have a problem with say, LoG, but it's just NOT metal.
Whatever. Cheers Alexi.

Explain why they aren't metal. Why do people here hate metalcore bands and say that they aren't metal, but saying LoG isn't metal is going too far, of course they aren't pure metal(like Pantera, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest etc...) but they are metal, there is metal outside of pure metal that IS good if you keep an open mind.

i_am_metalhead wrote:
Sorry but hendrix did suck... he is nothing special. it pisses me off that people say "oh yeah hendrix was the greatest ever!".. he isnt. i can name over a dozen guitarists who are more creative, more talented, and have done more pioneering on the guitar then hendrix could ever dream of doing.

Dude, Hendrix didnt suck. I agree that he wasn't the greatest guitarist. And I can name a bunch of guitarists that are better. But Hendrix was a major pioneer. He made new ways to take basic blues riffs and make them massive, utilizing feedback and excellent tone.

He's right about people labeling things. Who gives a shit if something is metalcore/grind/black/death/viking. Who gives a shit?
He used HZs because he has a gain booster on his pickup and if it was a active EMG, he would just get a bunch of feedback

Satchboogie#9 wrote:
i'd like to see a 15 year old pot head write a song like one of hendrix's in 5 minutes. I learnt stairway to heaven in about the same amount of time, so does that mean that that sucks too?

Not saying he wasnt creative or a good songwriter, he just wasnt THAT good of a guitar player.
Much like Cobain wasnt THAT good of a guitar player either, he just wrote beautiful songs.

You're the guy that he was mocking. Why would anybody keep up with that many f***ing genres? It's just stupid. I've always thought so, and I'm glad that somebody that I respect, Alexi Laiho, thinks so too. I don't know the difference between them, and neither does Alexi, so cut him some slack for not keeping up with all the bulls*** genres that people make up nowadays to make their bands sound special.

Ktulu Master wrote:
Sorry for double posting, but I'd like to state (before anyone deicides to flame me) that I quite like CoB and Alexi and I'm not trying to rip him or anything, but stating Hardcor is metal is like saying Grindcore is Progressive rock.
Good one UG for the interview!

Who really gives a toss about genres, if you like the music, listen to it, hating smething purely based on some pidgeonhole it's been dumped into is just stupid.

Dorito wrote:
Satchboogie#9 wrote:
i'd like to see a 15 year old pot head write a song like one of hendrix's in 5 minutes. I learnt stairway to heaven in about the same amount of time, so does that mean that that sucks too?
Not saying he wasnt creative or a good songwriter, he just wasnt THAT good of a guitar player.
Much like Cobain wasnt THAT good of a guitar player either, he just wrote beautiful songs.

ha, actually cobain was a shit guitar player, but he could write things noone else could
and i gotta say, comparing Jimi Hendrix and Alexi Laiho is rediculas. i could practice for 10 hours a day for about 5 years, and sound EXACTLY like Alexi, however, you can practice nonstop for the rest of your life and never sound like hendrix

True, no bands are really coming out of Alaska (Even though there is one currently on the Vans Warped Tour). That doesn't mean we don't know how to rock. Turbid North , Recca and Murder Is Justice ****ing own! You don't have to be famous to slay like no other.

alexilaihocob wrote:
Metallica1989 wrote:
Okay dude, you are exaggerating. They are pretty good at what they do and I like it, but they are definately NOT the most talented musicians on the planet, and they are NOT the greatest band.
Ok so whos better? Hendrix? Fu*k that sh*t, hendrix sucked, he only was so popular cuz he played guitar upside down and cuz he was a black guitar player. he wasnt that great and yet every time they have a poll in magazine for who the best guitar player is, its always 1.Hendrix 2.Page and 3.like Angus young or something... Hendrix wasnt that great and he still is called the best... Alexi is the best, lets see you go out there and fuc*in sweep pick and tap do all that sh*t as fast as him. There is no other band as CREATIVE as COB i guess you could say.

So... What's your point? Are you saying Alexi is god because of his speed? Speed doesn't say anything when talking about how great a guitarist is.
But if you really think speed is TEH GODZ0RZ and no one will change your opinion, then I can name you several "speedsters" that OVERKILL Alexi. Such as: Rusty Cooley, MAB, Yngwie, Al DiMeola, and Paul Gilbert.
I can mention many more, but I won't for your own sake. :*

Ktulu Master wrote:
Sorry for double posting, but I'd like to state (before anyone deicides to flame me) that I quite like CoB and Alexi and I'm not trying to rip him or anything, but stating Hardcor is metal is like saying Grindcore is Progressive rock.
Good one UG for the interview!

what i think hes trying to say is subgenres lick balls, theres is only metal, if u play thrash, death or black, its all just "Metal"

Alexi Laiho is a really talented guitarist, but I must say that he is actually a bit overrated. I'm from Finland and I've met some of the band members. But I got to say there are many much more talented players than him here in Finland. For example their new guitarist Roope Latvala who used to be in a Finnish thrash band called Stone is honestly one of the best guitarist in Finland. But maybe it's not really important who's the most talented..

Dude. Bodom thrashes harder than any of your little pop-punk **** bands.
Its gotten to the point where i hear NO ONE elses opinion... because i know their all wrong... if they talk down on Alexi... because he is one of the greatest players to walk this earth.

what i think hes trying to say is subgenres lick balls, theres is only metal, if u play thrash, death or black, its all just "Metal"

Whether you like it or not though - there will always be sub genres. Why? Because there is. And still why? Because emocore and mathcore both come under hardcore and are completely different with different sounds/tones/methods/theory/influences.

AznInvazn666 :
Anselmo_ wrote:
Alexi is overrated. CoB are samplers! They suck! Stealing soundtracks from Hans Zimmer, and from old computer-games. F***ing posers!
they are not overated have you every tried to play a sixteenth at 210? lol and id like to see you pull off an alexi solo

Owned.
I knew he was a good guitarist, but not that ****ing good... Woah...

If he had an active pickup, the distortion would be out of control because of his gain boost.
Do your homework before posting.

I didn't say that becuase they are passive (I would be hypocritical, because all my guitars have passives ) I said that because they are crap, belive me, I've tried a HZ equipped guitar.
Do your homework on EMG HZ's and see how crap they are.

Anselmo_ :
Alexi shouldn't even be lead anymore. Roope is much more talented. Cob is youth metal, so it's the mass who like them. CoB is just as much pop as f***ing backstreet boys lol

You're right about Roope being more talented, or at least I think so. But it's total bullshit saying that they're a pop band, they've played the same style of music for over ten years. The fact is that all the "new" metalcore bands have started to use classically influenced solos and harmonies and thus sounding quite much like what CoB been doing all these years.

HateCrew666 wrote:
Children Of Bodom will always have a better band then you. You guys just try to punk CoB because they are better then you and you arnt getting anywhere in your band. That is if you even have a band.

Oh, then I guess I forgot to diss much better bands than CoB, sorry.
C'mon dude, what you just said sounded like an 11 year old kid trying to make a comeback.

Meh. CoB aren't all their cracked up to be. Just incessant guitar noodling and overrated music. Much like Opeth. That voice annoys me too. Their guitar is ok, but the rhythm's and solos flat out suck (imo)

jumpmanhat wrote:
LOL True Metal????? do you have any idea of what true metal is? If you think its COB you are an idiot, hopefully you were being sarcastic, if you were I would think you are cool, NOT. Singing and playing is not a BIG deal unlesss the guitar parts are that hard, COB is not THAT hard (to play).

alexi may not be the fastest player in the world, but at least he does something most shredders don't do, he implements substance and melody into his solos. He might write a solo that's techincal as hell, full of sweeping arpeggios and tapping licks, but whatever it is, i'll still find it getting stuck in my head, or me humming it, kissing the shadows anyone?

stringmagician wrote:
Dorito wrote:
Satchboogie#9 wrote:
i'd like to see a 15 year old pot head write a song like one of hendrix's in 5 minutes. I learnt stairway to heaven in about the same amount of time, so does that mean that that sucks too?
Not saying he wasnt creative or a good songwriter, he just wasnt THAT good of a guitar player.
Much like Cobain wasnt THAT good of a guitar player either, he just wrote beautiful songs.
ha, actually cobain was a shit guitar player, but he could write things noone else could
and i gotta say, comparing Jimi Hendrix and Alexi Laiho is rediculas. i could practice for 10 hours a day for about 5 years, and sound EXACTLY like Alexi, however, you can practice nonstop for the rest of your life and never sound like hendrix

there is a difference between sounding like someone and creating music that compares to someones work

Children of Bodom are a great band for sure, but for sure also not the best and certainly not the most skilled. Alexi's shredding is overrated (no, I can't do better, but Alexi's shredding still isn't that good).
Silent Night, Bodom Night forever!

ripewithdecay wrote:
alexi may not be the fastest player in the world, but at least he does something most shredders don't do, he implements substance and melody into his solos. He might write a solo that's techincal as hell, full of sweeping arpeggios and tapping licks, but whatever it is, i'll still find it getting stuck in my head, or me humming it, kissing the shadows anyone?

good point and right as i was reading that i was listening to kissing the shadows..haha one of their best songs and a good example of how he can play lead and sing..amazing

Ihearthetfield wrote:
Children of Bodom has some of the coolest guitaring around. BUT ALEX CAN'T SING. He sounds like a fourteen year old trying to sing a mix of grindcore and hardcore punk but failing miserably.
Because of his horrible voice I can't stand listening to their music.
Megadeth and Metallica are the true kings of metal.

Fuck yeah!!!!!
But I still prefer pantera to megadeth, but I like megadeth too. the only thing that anoyed me is dave mustaine's voice

Goth_hater wrote:
Children of Bodom still suck, they are a pop band trying to be a metal band.
ok buddy, im sorry , but ur fu**ing retarded, go back home and go listen to your backstreet boys some more, and check yur fu*king hearing aids cus im pretty sure that death metal sounds nothing like pop

Dead.Alone wrote:
LOL! HZ!
If he had an active pickup, the distortion would be out of control because of his gain boost.
Do your homework before posting.

maybe you should be doing your homework ? i play an 81/85 combo on my warrior and i've NEVER had problems playing any heavy ass shit , in fact it reduces the problems i've had. it cleans out all the background noise and i get sharper , cleaner distortion no matter the tuning or the amp settings i use. then again EVERYTHING sounds muddy when you play with the EMG TurboCharger enabled..

metalupyour_ass wrote:
Ihearthetfield wrote:
Children of Bodom has some of the coolest guitaring around. BUT ALEX CAN'T SING. He sounds like a fourteen year old trying to sing a mix of grindcore and hardcore punk but failing miserably.
Because of his horrible voice I can't stand listening to their music.
Megadeth and Metallica are the true kings of metal.
Fuck yeah!!!!!
But I still prefer pantera to megadeth, but I like megadeth too. the only thing that anoyed me is dave mustaine's voice

megadeth
pantera
testament
slayer
----- nothing can touch em , and no offence to anyone who likes the growly tone , but those growly tones scare me off. the only reason i got into bodom was cuz their REALLY talented with their instruments , im not too heavy into their vocals

DaBlackE wrote:
ArcherTheVMan wrote:
Dead.Alone wrote:
LOL! HZ!
If he had an active pickup, the distortion would be out of control because of his gain boost.
Do your homework before posting.
well, not really.Kerry King uses EMG 81/85s with a gain boost and his distortion doesn't seem outta control.

Yes Kerry king does but he uses lowered gain on his amp dumbass.. Alexi has the gain boost on his HZ because with a 81/85 he would have so much feedback if he stopped playing that it would be redicules. Laiho have his head at full gain as well.. Also as far as I know the EMG 60 (which I love) is too hot for gain boost.. chances are Laiho would use either a 60 or a 81 the 85 isn't as hot of a pickup as either. And this doesn't ****ing matter Alexi has wicked tone and he is amaing, if he can use a lower quality pickup to ge that sounds ****ing go for it. Also Kings distortion is alot lower then Alexi's.

Alexi Laiho is god. Gonna be a legend, His vocals are good, it's metal, what more do you want? Do you see bands making solos in every freakin song? Obviously not, Everyone is to busy being Screamo, HxC, and emo.
Every music Genre today is POP, EMO, Screamo, HARDCORE
It's completly sad, Disagree or not, you people [most of you not all] are f**kin STUPID!!!!
You guys are putting Jimi Hendrix in the conversation, and Megadeath for no apparent reason. Alexi is the best guitar player right now. Face it. It's 2006. you wont see anything f**king better
Stop arguing and try playing his music.
Oh yea, Goodluck.

I ****ing hate it when people say CoB is overated, jus't because they can play guitar better and get more attention than some of your rock bands (GNR, ACDC etc.) you think that they suck. I also hate it when they try to put a genre to them, they said they don't like genres and I believe that, play what you wan't to play, don't label yourself. Personally, I wouldn't wanna' hear any other kind of singing for CoB's style of music, it would sound ****ing gay. CKYBAMHIM1190, I agree with you all the way. Fuck I hate everyone how everythings ****ing overated and they are ****in posers and shit, what the ****? You just wish you can play like they can, but you can't because your stuck listening to Taking Back Sunday and cutting your god damn ****ing wrists. I've played Alexis signature axe, the gain wouldn't be overwhelming, it's actually a flippin' perfect guitar. For all of you who think metal sucks because it has no tone, read my signature. Alexi and Roope make the best music and you just can't face it, just because they have my talent then yesterdecades rock bands, just accept it because you know its true, you just dont want to believe that a metal band from finland has amazing skill.

Metallica12_12 wrote:
DaBlackE wrote:
ArcherTheVMan wrote:
Dead.Alone wrote:
LOL! HZ!
If he had an active pickup, the distortion would be out of control because of his gain boost.
Do your homework before posting.
well, not really.Kerry King uses EMG 81/85s with a gain boost and his distortion doesn't seem outta control.
Yes Kerry king does but he uses lowered gain on his amp dumbass.. Alexi has the gain boost on his HZ because with a 81/85 he would have so much feedback if he stopped playing that it would be redicules. Laiho have his head at full gain as well.. Also as far as I know the EMG 60 (which I love) is too hot for gain boost.. chances are Laiho would use either a 60 or a 81 the 85 isn't as hot of a pickup as either. And this doesn't ****ing matter Alexi has wicked tone and he is amaing, if he can use a lower quality pickup to ge that sounds ****ing go for it. Also Kings distortion is alot lower then Alexi's.

hey dumbass Kerry's pre-amp gain on his JCM 800 is on 10 with a 10-band EQ, so the gain isn't lowered. He says so in the June 2003 Guitar World column

Also...I am just sick of all these sub-genres. It's just ridiculous already. We should simply classify everything as: Classic Rock, punk, metal, progressive, alternative, and raggae/ska. every rock band can be put under these categories, or a mix of these catgories.

alexilaihocob wrote:
Anybody who talks sh*t about Children Of Bodom or ANY of the band members can die cuz Alexi, Jaska, Roope, Henkka, and Janne KICK ASS!!!... COB is the greatest band and they do have the MOST talented musicians on the planet... You dont need to ask all those stupid questions about Alexi's guitars either because you can find it all on the ESP website or the ESP Russia or Japan website... I agree "do your homework before posting"

I'd agree they are very talented musicians, as for the BEST on the planet? I can play alexi's stuff on guitar and janne's keys, mainly becoz i've been playing classical piano since i was four. But janne and alexi, hell the entire band is amazing, janne's been my role model and i loved learning to play his solos and alexi's solos, \m/ CoB

GNR-4-Ever wrote:
Also...I am just sick of all these sub-genres. It's just ridiculous already. We should simply classify everything as: Classic Rock, punk, metal, progressive, alternative, and raggae/ska. every rock band can be put under these categories, or a mix of these catgories.

Cheers to that, what i think however is that every band has it's unique sound and that people should just know- just because a band is under a specific genre, it doesn't mean it all sounds the same, hell it's like expecting Dark Tranquillity and Blind Guardian to sound alike.

DaBlackE wrote:
Metallica12_12 wrote:
DaBlackE wrote:
ArcherTheVMan wrote:
Dead.Alone wrote:
LOL! HZ!
If he had an active pickup, the distortion would be out of control because of his gain boost.
Do your homework before posting.
well, not really.Kerry King uses EMG 81/85s with a gain boost and his distortion doesn't seem outta control.
Yes Kerry king does but he uses lowered gain on his amp dumbass.. Alexi has the gain boost on his HZ because with a 81/85 he would have so much feedback if he stopped playing that it would be redicules. Laiho have his head at full gain as well.. Also as far as I know the EMG 60 (which I love) is too hot for gain boost.. chances are Laiho would use either a 60 or a 81 the 85 isn't as hot of a pickup as either. And this doesn't ****ing matter Alexi has wicked tone and he is amaing, if he can use a lower quality pickup to ge that sounds ****ing go for it. Also Kings distortion is alot lower then Alexi's.hey dumbass Kerry's pre-amp gain on his JCM 800 is on 10 with a 10-band EQ, so the gain isn't lowered. He says so in the June 2003 Guitar World column

Try listenning to a slayer song then a COB song slayer have a milder distortion.

metalupyour_ass wrote:
Ihearthetfield wrote:
Children of Bodom has some of the coolest guitaring around. BUT ALEX CAN'T SING. He sounds like a fourteen year old trying to sing a mix of grindcore and hardcore punk but failing miserably.
Because of his horrible voice I can't stand listening to their music.
Megadeth and Metallica are the true kings of metal.
Fuck yeah!!!!!
But I still prefer pantera to megadeth, but I like megadeth too. the only thing that anoyed me is dave mustaine's voice

Anselmo_ wrote:
Alexi is overrated. CoB are samplers! They suck! Stealing soundtracks from Hans Zimmer, and from old computer-games. F***ing posers!

wow dude, you just said they suck and then your saying that Alexi is a great guitar player... you should make up your mind...

Dude why don't people consider Finnish metal as its own genre??? Think about the similarities between Children of Bodom and Kalmah. It's all heavy ass melodic shit. And please don't consider HIM or Turbonegro Finnish metal bands...they are not metal for future reference.

By the way dumbasses... just because a guitar has pinstripes doesnt mean its a ripoff. it has ONE pickup, and it has a totally DIFFERENT pickup. and it has different INLAYS. The only thing the same is the pinstripes and the body frame. So **** yall, hendrix did suck, and yes, Cob rules.

XWildChildX2212 wrote:
By the way dumbasses... just because a guitar has pinstripes doesnt mean its a ripoff. it has ONE pickup, and it has a totally DIFFERENT pickup. and it has different INLAYS. The only thing the same is the pinstripes and the body frame. So **** yall, hendrix did suck, and yes, Cob rules.

totenkopf wrote:
couldn't have said it better, hope all the kiddies from the "metal" forum read this
He's entitled to his opinion, but he's wrong. I don't have a problem with say, LoG, but it's just NOT metal.
Whatever. Cheers Alexi.

HOW IS LAMB OF GOD NOT METAL!! they have amazing, heavy, fast musicianship, they fused thrash/speed metal with death metal. go listen to Ashes Of The Wake again and if you say thats not metal you dont know the first thing about metal